ALBANY — New York can no longer prohibit families from using reports that their disabled relatives were abused in state facilities under a new law that one parent said will end intimidation of suffering families.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday signed the law that seeks to correct what stressed and grieving families have long complained about when attempting to deal with abuse and neglect of their disabled children and other relatives in state facilities.

Since 2007 under the reform act known as Jonathan's Law, state reports of abuse and neglect were provided to families. But they were stamped "confidential — do not disclose." That hindered families from pursuing abuse cases involving their loved ones through legal action and even to refer the case to law enforcement. Families saw that as an obstacle to removing repeat offenders.

"This type of secrecy is never good public policy," said Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, a Long Island Democrat who co-sponsored the bill.